Spain boss working to fit 3 Barcelona stars in starting XI

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente is searching for a formula to fit three leading members of the first-team ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona into his starting line-up.

That’s according to Diario Sport, who point towards Pedri, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal as the trio in question.

The latter is considered a lock in the Spanish XI, fresh off playing a starring role in the country’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.

In the case of Pedri and Olmo, though, the situation becomes more complicated.

The former stood as the first-choice attacking midfielder in Luis de la Fuente’s line-up over the early rounds of the Euros this summer.

However, upon Pedri picking up an injury against Germany, Dani Olmo took over, and shone bright.

De la Fuente, for his part, generally lines out with two defensive options in the middle of the park, with a more advanced attack-minded player in front.

What Hansi Flick has shown Spain’s headmaster over the last couple of weeks, though, is that, in the case of the Spanish coaching staff being a little more flexible with their system, Pedri and Olmo could both start.

The former would take his place as one of the two deeper-lying midfielders, with Olmo in front.

As much worked to devastating effect in Barcelona’s 7-0 drubbing of Real Valladolid just this past weekend.

The formula for La Roja as of yet remains unclear, but one thing is for sure – Luis de la Fuente wants two members of La Liga leaders Barca’s engine room ranks in his starting XI moving forward.

Conor Laird | GSFN